Health in austerity: hard decisions for hard times
The warning for other countries and health systems is that although health can be placed in jeopardy during times of financial hardship, loss of health gains is not inevitable. Experience elsewhere in Europe shows that those countries which prioritise social protection (including health) in the midst of austerity, and favour fiscal stimulation, secure better outcomes for their populations. Anticipating areas of increased need, such as mental health, and maintaining—rather than dismantling—public health resilience is key to preventing the downward spiral of a financial recession becoming a health recession.